The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-17
RECORD OF A VACATION.
AT the close of my pleasant visit in
Chicago, 1 went directly to the historic
town of

Az IU0 ClOS6 OF my PHEASANT VlSlG Ill
Chicago, went directly to the historic
town of
Quincy,
eight miles south of Boston. Here are
the birthplaces of the Adams and
Quincy families; and beneath the mas
sive stone church of the First parish,
are inferred the remains of the two ex-
Presidents, John Adams and John
Quincy Adams, whose marble busts in
the church are also objects of interest.
The Crane public library is massive
stone structure, which contains an ad-
mirable collection of books, including
the valuable John Adams reference
library. Rev. S. G.. Davis is the eff
cient pastor of the Universalist parish,
whose new church, in the Queen Anne
style, is d very pleasing and convenient
structure. My next stopping place was
Waltham,
whose watches have gained world
wide renown. Here is Prospect Hill,
which commands wide view of the
surrounding country. Upon the beau
tiful Charles river, there is great
amount of rowing, sailing and steam
boat riding. The new Universalist
church is we'll filled every Sunday, and
the society is prospering under the pas
tOrate of Rev. Mr.. Blackford. One of
my pleasantest experiences was day in
Concord and Lexington.
AT the first named place saw the former
residences of Emerson, Hawthorne and
the Alcotts, the old manse still in
good state of preservation; the mon
uments of the civil war and the Con-
cord battle, and of still greater interest
to me, 1.-The Minute Man, >" designed by
d. G. French, a classmate Of mine, who
in boyhOod showed great artistic abil-
ity. No one should leave Concord with
out visiting the Antiquarian Collection,
Z the most extensive and completes have
ever seen. Here are all kinds of old
fashioned kitchen utensils, foot stoves,
settles, pewter ware, old China, tables,
bureaus, desks, chairs, beds, clocks, pic
lures, and articles of clothing, from one
to three hundred years old, many of
which have an interesting history. In
no other place have found it so easy
to understand the austere and simple
life of the Colonial days. Upon the
road to Lexington there are inscriptions
upon stones to mark incidents in the
retreat of the British troops, April 10,
1775, which vividly recall that event
In Lexington one should see the COM
mon, upon which is erected the battle
monument, the site of the old meeting
house, near which the minute men were
drawn up, the old tavern with the
marks of British bullets upon it, the
house in which Samuel Adams and
John Hancock were concealed, and the
Memorial Hall. Here among many
objects of interest, noted the brace of
pistols, with one of which Maj. Pitcairn
fired the first shot of the Revolution,
the tongue of the old bell which an
nounced the approach of the English
troops, and several interesting old pic
lures of the Concord and Lexington
fights. Upon the road to Waltham we
also passed the monument which marks
the birthplace of Theodore Parker. In
Boston
| twice visited the Publishing House,
and met there several of our laymen
and ministers. Great improvements
are being made in the Columbus avenue
church, but during the summer the
Shawmut avenue church has been wisely
kept open, the pulpit being supplied by
Mr.. Perrin and DR.. Miner. Among other
places, | went to the old State house.
with its fine historic collections, Faneuil
Hall, and the Art Museum. Here be-
sides the pictures, statuary and pot
terry, was especially pleased with the
Way collection of Egyptian antiquities,
the specimens of Etruscan, Roman and
Grecian art, and the large number Of
ancient coins. September I, l visited
Christ church, built in 1928, the oldest
church edidce in the city Here one
can see the old organ which antedates
the Revolution, the communion service
presented by king George III. the old
prayer book and the vinegar Bible.
In the tombs under the church have
been inferred the remains of Major
Pitcairn, and other notable men. April
Is, l775, the sexton, Mr., Newman, hung
in the church tower the signal lantern
which sent forth Paul Revere upon his
eventful ride. In the COpp's Hill GEM
etery near by, is the tomb of the Math-
ers, and the graves of many early set
tiers of Boston may be seen. Many his
toric events occurred in the crooked and
narrow streets of this antique part of
the city.
My vacation is ended, but return to
the West with mind enriched with
many pleasant memories. E. Wv.